Method of and apparatus for treating felt articles



June 22 1926. 1,589,627

F. F. CHUDOBA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FELT ARTICLES Filed May 21, 1924 Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK IF. CHUDOBA, OF GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES HAT MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FELT ARTICLES.

Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for shrinking hat bats and the like. The object of the invention is to provide for the shrinking and felting of hat bats and the like in an effective, economical manner. By the use of the improved method and apparatus herein described, the hat bats are very speedily and uniformly shrunk, and superior articles are. obtained.

0 Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail .hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein I have shown, for illustrative purposes, two

embodiments which the present invention may take, it being understood that these showings are by Way of exemplification only.

Figure 1 is a top plan view;v

Fig. 2 is a vertical central View through the machine shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slightly different embodiment.

In the illustrative showings of the drawing, the machine has a pair of members between which a hat bat, in conical form, is interposed, one of these members, for instance the outer one, being in the form of a conical pad which is flexible or bendable,

and means, such as rollers, are provided for progressively applying'pressure to and bending the flexible pad and the bat. By preference, one of the members, which may be the 4 Jlexible pad, has a multiplicity of elastic knuckles engaging the bat, and these knuckles, under the force of pressure applied thereto, locally manipulate the fibres of the bat in such manner as to facilitate the shrinking and felting operation. The other member may he yielding or resilient to permit of flectibns in the bat. Also, by preference, the rollers and the conical members are rotated at differential speeds, the difference in the speed of rotation gradually increasing as the felting operation progresses.

It is also of advantage to increase the pres- 1924. Serial No. 714,882.

sure applied to the bat as the latter becomes harder. The bat is maintained in a saturated condition while it is being manipulated and, to this end, the construction may be such that the bat is immersed in a bath of scalding hot water.

1 Referring to the drawing in detail, a and b designate, generally, two conical units or members, one positioned within the other, and adapted to support there-between a hat bat such as is designated by the letter 0. One of these conical units, in the present instance the inner one I) which forms a sup port for the bat, has a resilient or yielding cone 11 which may be formed of sponge rubber and which is backed by a rigid cone 10. The member or pad a, which, in the-present instance, constitutes the outer cone, is formed of suitable flexible material, for example vulcanized rubber, and, by preference, has on its inner face, a multiplicity of knuckles 12 which may also be formed of rubber and which may have the form of small pyramids, as illustrated. By preference, the conical units a and b are in inverted position. The outer cone a is supported by a plurality of rollers 13 and 14 carried by a rotatable support or carrier 15. The rollers 13 are angularly arranged in accordance with the slopirig sides of the cone 1) and roll the sides 0 t he flexible cone a when the carrier 15 is rotated. The rollers 13 may be carried by yokes or brackets 16,each of which is pivoted to the carrier 15, as at 17. The inclination of the rollers relative to the axes of the cones may be changed, when desired, by adjusting the screws 18. The rollers 14, which are of concave form, are adapted to roll the curved portions at the top of the cone 6. The numeral 19 designates a knocker or jigger supported in the carrier 15 for engagement with the tip of the cone a. This jigger, which is in the form of a headed stem, is vibrated up and down by a cam 20 fixed on a shaft 21 rotated in any suitable manner. The knocker 19 is resiliently held in engagement with the cam 20 by a spring 22. The carrier 15, together with the rollers I rotary movement.

the carrier. The carrier is rotatably supported by a plate 26. The worm may be driven by means of a belt, not shown, passing about a cone pulley 27 fixed to the shaft carrying the worm 23.

Preferably, the inner cone is supported for To this end, it has a spider 30 fixed to a vertical driven shaft or pin 31 journalled in a bracket arm 32 slidably supported by an upstanding rod 33. The shaft 31 may, if desired, be positively driven in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by means of a belt, not shown, passing about a pulley 34 fixed to the upper end of the shaft 31.

During the felting operation, the conical members are pressed towards each other to squeeze the bat therebetween and, by preference, the pressure is increased as the bat becomes harder and stronger. This may be brought about in any suitable manner; for instance, the bracket arm and inner cone carried thereby may be urged downwardly by a spring 37, the compression of which may be regulated bya ,set screw 38 carried by a collar 39 adjustable on the rod 33. When the parts are in operative position, the collar 39 may be clamped in place by a bolt 40. The bracket arm is provided with a bolt 41 by means of which this arm may be clamped in raised position.

43 designates a pipe from which hot water is discharged into the conical unit I). The metal cone 10 has, at its lower end, a plurality of apertures 46 through which and the sponge rubber cover 11 the water may flow to the space occupied by the hat. The water is adapted to overflow from the outer cone and fall into the carrier 15 from which it is discharged through the ports 47. If desired, this water may be used over and over again.

The operation of the machine is briefly as follows: When it is desired to position a bat in place, the collar 39 and the bracket arm 32, together with the cone unit 6, are raised, the bat is put in the position shown in the drawing, and then the collar' 39, the bracket arm 32 and the inner cone are lowered, the collar being clamped in position by the bolt 40. The water is then discharged from the pipe 45 into the inner cone. The carrier 15 is then rotated, causing the rollers 13- and 14 to circumferentially roll the flexible pad a, thereby progressively applying pressure thereto and the bat, with the result that the bat is intermittently and repeatedly squeezed and flexed. The rollers form waves in the flexible cone and in the bat, and these waves are progressed circumferentially through these elements. The resilient cone or covering 11 permits of flexure, Waving and bending of the bat. As the rollers progress about the flexible cone, the knuckles are bent and deformed and then assume their shape, thereby giving to the bat, over its entire surface and at a multiplicity of points, a local kneading action. Owing to the general flexing, waving and bending actions introduced in the bat, and the local flections or manipulations effected by the multiplicity of kneading knuckles, the fibres of the bat are given a vermicular movement, causing them to work closer and closer together, which means that the shrinking and felting operation is expedited. During the shrinking and felting operation, the jigger 19 is given a vibratory movement so that the bat is properly manipulated at its tip or point. 7

When the bat is soft, the fibres are relatively free for vermicular movement relative to one another. When the bat is manip .ulated, the felting action proceeds rather rapidly but, as the bat becomes harder and harder, the fibres become interlocked and are closely matted so that the shrinking and felting operation proceeds with less facility. The bat, as first placed between the cones, is very soft and relatively weak and, therefore, requires rather gentle treatment to prevent injury thereto, but, as the fibres work closer and closer together, making the hat bat harder and stronger, the latter may be subjected to increasingly rougher treatment. In the present instance, owing to these circumstances, at the beginning of the felting operation, the rollers and inner cone are caused to rotate at the same or very slight differential speed, and the inner cone is pressed very lightly against the bat so that the latter is very gently manipulated. As the bat becomes harder, the pressure thereon may be increased, as by turning the screw 38, toplace the spring 37 under greater compression, and the difference in speeds between the rollers and the cones may be increased as by speeding up the carrier 15 or by retarding the rotary movement of the inner cone; for example, the carrier may be speeded up by throwing the drive belt onto one of the smaller sections of the stepped pulley 27. It may be stated that, while, by preference, the inner cone is positively driven, this may not be found necessary for even though the inner cone and the rollers are rotated at the same speed, the bat will be manipulated, and it will be found that the bat creeps relative to the cones. If the inner cone is permitted to run free, that is, is not positively driven, it will tend to rotate with the rollers and the outer cone, but it will lag behind these elements and, as the speed of the carrier is increased, the extent of lag is more pronounced.

It is of distlnct advantageto shrink and felt the hat in conical condition rather than in flatwise condition for the reason that the bat is given a more uniform treatment and may be given nrore nearly the shape of the final hat so that when the bat is blocked to final sh ape, but little stretching of the felted material is required.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in the preceding embodiment. In Fig. 3, however, the cones a and b, at their upper ends, are flared outwardly so that the bat may be manipulated in more nearly the form which it is finally given, that is to say, with the brim portion at an angle to the walls of the crown portion. The sides of the crown portion, in this embodiment, are pressed and rolled by the rollers 13, and the brim portion by the rollers 13". v As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

'It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language,

might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of similarly shaped conical members maintained in conical condition one within the other and between which. the bat is interposed and maintained in conical form, one of said members being flexible, and means for progressing successive waves in said flexible member.

2. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical, members maintained in conical condition one within the other and between which the bat is interposed and maintained in conical form, one of said members being resilient and the other of said members being-flexible, and means for progressing successive waves in the flexible member to thereby progressively bend and squeeze the bat between said members.

3. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of similarly shaped conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed and maintained in conical form, one of said members being flexible, and means for progressively applying pressure to said flexible member to thereby progressively squeeze the bat between said members.

4. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed and maintained in conical form, the outer of said members being flexible and the inner one bemg resilient, and

means externally of said flexible member for progressing pressure circumferentially of the flexible member to thereby progressively squeeze and flex the bat.

5. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a'resilient member and a flexible member between which a bat is interposed, and rollers for rolling said flexible member and progressively squeezing the bat between said members and said flexible memher being interposed and maintained in conical form between said resilient member and rollers.

6. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed and maintained in conical form, one of said members being resilient and the other of said members being flexible, rollers engaging said flexible member, said flexible member being interposed and maintained in conical form between said resilient member and rollers and means for moving rollers circumferentially of said flexible member.

7. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a resilient non-collapsible conical member over which the bat is adapted to fit, a flexible member surrounding the bat and maintained in conical condition by said resilient member, rollers engaging said flexible member and pressing the same against the bat, and means for relatively revolving said rollers and said flexible member, whereby to roll said flexible member and progressively apply pressure to the bat.

8. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a non-collapsible conical member of soft, resilient material and adapted to support and maintain the bat in conical form, a. flexible conical member surrounding the hat, a rotatable carrier, rollers supported by said carrier and engaging said flexible member, and means for adjusting the angularity of the rollers.

9. In a. machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed in conical form, one of said members being flexible and one of said members being provided on its bat engaging surface with a multiplicity of. kneading knuckles, and means for progressing successive waves in the flexible member.

10. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members between whieh the bat is interposed in conical form, oneof said members being resilient and the other of said members being flexible, one of said members having, on its bat engaging surface, a multiplicity of ela'stic kneading knuckles, and means for pro gressing successive waves in the flexiblemember to thereby progressively bend and squeeze the .bat and cause said knuckles to locally manipulate the bat.

11. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed in conical form, one of said members being flexible and having, on its bat engaging surface, a multiplicity of elastic kneading knuckles, and means for pro gressively applying pressure to said flexible member to thereby progressively squeeze the bat and cause the knuckles to locally manipulate the same.

12. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed in conical form, the inner of said members forming a yielding or resilient support and the outer of said members being flexible and having, on its inner face, a multiplicity of elastic kneading knuckles, and means for progressing pressure circumferentially ot' the flexible member.

13. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a resilient member and a flexible member between which the bat is interposed, said flexible member having, on its bat engaging face, a multiplicity of elastic kneading knuckles, and rollers for roiling over said flexible member to thereby progressively squeeze and wave the bat and cause said knuckles to locally manipulate the same.

14. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed in conical form, one of said members being resilient and the other of saidmembers being flexible and having a multiplicity of kneading knuckles on its bat engaging face, rollers engaging said flexible member and holding the same against the bat, and means for relatively revolving said rollers and flexible member.

. 15. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a resilient conical member over which the bat is adapted to fit, a flexible member surrounding the bat and having a multiplicity of kneading knuckles engaging the same, rollers engaging said flexible member and pressing the same against the bat, and means for moving said rollers circumferentially of said flexible member.

16. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed in conical form, one of said members being flexible, means for progressing successive waves in said flexible member, and means for intermittently applying pressure to the apex of said flexible member to manipulate the apex of the bat.

17. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of-conical members one which the bat is adapted to fit, a flexible.

member surrounding the bat and havin a multiplicity of kneading knuckles engaging the same, rollers engaging said flexible member and pressing the same against the bat,

means for relatively revolving said rollers and flexible member, and a jigger for intermittently applying pressure to the apex of the flexible member.

19. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed and maintained in conical form, one of said members being flexible and the other member being non-collapsible, means for progressively applying pressure to said flexible member to thereby progressively squeeze the bat between said members. said flexible member being interposed between and maintained in conical condition by, said means and the collapsible member and means for increasing the pressure on the bat.

20. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of similarly shaped conical members fitting one withinthe other and between which the bat is interposed and maintained in conical form, the outer of said members being flexible and the inner one being resilient, means for progressing pressure circumferentially of the flexible member to thereby progressively squeeze and flex the bat, means for varying the pressure on the bat.

21. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a rotatable, resilient conical member over which the bat is adapted to fit in conical condition, a flexible member surrounding the bat and maintained in conical condition by said rotatable member, rollers engaging the external surfaces of said flexible member, and means for revolving said rollers.

22. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed in"conical form, one of said members being flexible and one of said members being provided on its bat engaging surface with a multiplicity of kneading knuckles, means for progressively applying pressure to the flexible member, and means tor urging said conical members together under increasing pressure.

23. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a pair of conical members one within the other and between which the bat is interposed in conical form, one of said members being flexible and the other being resilient and one of said members being provided on its bat engaging surface with a multiplicity of kneading knuckles, means for progressively applying pressure to the flexible member at an increasing speed, and

means for urging the conical members together under increasing pressure.

24. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like, a resilient conical member over which the bat is adapted to fit, a flexible member surrounding the bat and having a multiplicity of kneading knuckles engaging the same, rollers engaging said flexible member, means for moving said rollers over said flexible member at an increasing speed, and means for urging said conical members towards each other under increasing pressure. I

25. In a machine for shrinking hat bats and the like. a resilient conical member over which the bat is, adapted to fit, a flexible member surrounding the bat and having a multiplicity of kneading knuckles engaging the same, rollers engaging said flexible member and pressing the same against the bat, means for moving said rollers circumferentially of said flexible member, and means for rotating said first conical member.

'26. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in support-ing and maintaining the bat in conical form between a pair of conical members one of which is flexible, and progressing successive waves in the, flexible member.

27. The herein described method of treat-- ing hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting and maintaining the bat in conical form between a conical resilient member and a conical flexible member, and progressively bending and squeezing the bat by progressing, under pressure, successive Waves in r the flexible member.

28. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting and maintaining the bat in conical form between a resilient conical member and a flexible conical member, and progressively applying pressure circumferen-- tially of the flexible member to thereby progressively squeeze and flex the bat.

29. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting and maintaining the bat in conical form between a pair of conical members one of which is flexible, and progressively applying pressure to the flexible member and bat by means of rollers rolling over the flexible member while maintaining the flexible memher and bat in conical condition.

30. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting and maintaining the bat in conical form between a conical resilient member and a conical flexible member fitting one within the other. progressively bending and squeezing the bat by progressing, under pressure, successive waves in the flexible member, and manipulating the apex of the flexible member to affect the tip of the bat.

v 31. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting the bat in conical form between a pair of conical members, one of which is flexible and one of which is provided on its bat engaging surface with a multiplicity of kneading knuckles, and progressing successive waves in the flexible member.

32. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting the bat in conical form between a conical resilient member and a conical flexible member, one of which is provided with a multiplicity of kneading knuckles, and progressively bending and squeezing the bat by progressing, under pressure, successive waves in,the flexible member.

33. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting the bat in conical form between a pair of conical members one of which is flexible and one of which is provided with a multiplicity of kneading knuckles, and progresslvely applying pressure to the flexible member and bat by means of rollers rolling over the flexible member.

34. The herein described method of treat ing hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting and maintaining the bat in K00111- cal form between a pair of conical members one of which is flexible, and manipulating the flexible member while maintaining its conical condition and causing the two members to creep relative to each other.

35. -The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists 1n supporting a bat between a pair of conical members, one of which is flexlble and one of which is rovided on its bat engaging surface with a multiplicity of kneading knuckles, and manipulating the flexible member and causing the same to creep circum-' ferentially of the other member.

36. The herein described method of trea ting hat bats and the like, which conslsts in supporting and maintaining the bat in open conical form between a pair of conical members one within the other and one of which is flexible, i'progressively applying pressure to the flexible member while maintaining the same and the bat in open conical form, and increasing the pressure against the bat as the latter becomes harder and stronger.

37. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting and maintaining the bat in comcal form between a pair of conical members one within the other and one of which is flexible, progressively applying pressure to the flexible member while maintaining the same and the bat in open conical form, and increasing the rate at which the pressure is progressed as the bat becomes harder and stronger.

38. The herein described method of treating hat bats and'the like, which consists in supporting and maintaining the bat in conical form between a pair of conical members one within the other, one of which is flexible and the other of which is resilient, progressively applying pressure to the flexible member while maintaining the same and the bat in open conical form, increasing the rate at which the pressure is progressed as the bat becomes harder and stronger, and increasing the amount of pressure as the bat becomes harder and stronger.

39. The herein described method of treating hat bats'and the like, which consists in supporting the bat between a pair of conical members one within the other, one of said members being flexible, progressively applying pressure to the flexible member, kneading the bat at a multiplicity of points by elastic knuckles, and increasing the pressure against the bat as it becomes harder and stronger.

40. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting the bat in conical form between a pair of conical members one within the other, one of said members being flexible and one of the members having on its bat engaging surface a multiplicity of elastic kneading knuckles, progressively applying pressure to the flexible member, and increasing the rate at which the pressure is progressed as the bat becomes harder and stronger.

41. The herein described method of treating hat bats and the like, which consists in supporting the bat in conical form between a pair of conical members one within the other, one of the members being flexible and the other being resilient and one of the members having on its bat engaging surface a multiplicity of kneading knuckles, progressiyely applying pressure to the flexible member by means of rollers, and increasing the rate at which the pressure is progressed as the bat becomes harder and stronger and increasing the amount of pressure against the bat as the felting operation proceeds.

FRANK F. CHUDOBA. 

